Whiskey and the Writings

We grew up in it. The WOW compilations, the youth group pecking order, the "on fire" vs. "backslidden" scoreboard. The pressure to show up every Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday. The feeling that doubt was failure and the world outside the church was basically the enemy. In this conversation, Joe sits down with his friend Mario to take an honest look back at evangelical Christian culture in the 90s and early 2000s, what it shaped in them, what it cost them, and what they are still sorting through today. This is not a takedown. It is a real, unfiltered conversation between two people who loved a lot of what they experienced and are also still feeling the weight of some of it. If you grew up in church, ever wondered if your doubt makes you a bad Christian, or just need someone to name what you lived through, pull up a chair.

Here's something nobody really says out loud in the pew: everybody around you looks like they've got it figured out. Same songs, same prayers, same language, same faces. And somewhere along the way you start wondering if your experience of God is supposed to look exactly like theirs.It's not.The spiritual journey is one of the most personal things a human being can go through. And the church, for all it gets right, has a habit of handing everyone the same map and calling it the only route. But what if your path was always supposed to look different? What if the questions, the doubt, the wandering, the silence from God you weren't supposed to admit to, what if all of that is actually part of the journey and not a sign you're doing it wrong?

In this conversation with Pastor Josh Kramer, we talk honestly about church hurt, why the church still matters, and what it actually means to follow the way of Jesus. What happens when the church looks nothing like Jesus? Why do some people walk away from faith communities while others stay and try to build something better?

Forgiveness is one of those things you can know you're supposed to do and still not be able to make yourself do it. This week I'm sharing something pretty vulnerable. A year of holding on, a week that forced my hand, and what Jesus and Paul actually say about what forgiveness is and what it isn't. We dig into Matthew 6 and the Lord's Prayer, where Jesus ties our forgiveness directly to our willingness to forgive others. Heavy stuff. And then Paul in Ephesians 4, where he lays out a path that starts not with forgiving but with letting go of bitterness and anger first. Maybe that's the actual first step nobody talks about. This one's personal. Pour something good and pull up a chair.

Here's something nobody preaches on Easter Sunday: even after the resurrection, Jesus's disciples weren't sure. Thomas wasn't. The two on the road to Emmaus weren't. It took Jesus 40 days of showing up, teaching, and performing miracles to convince the people who were literally there. So if you walked out of Easter weekend with more questions than answers, you're not failing at faith. You're just on a Monday.Grab a drink. Let's figure this out together. Newsletter + more: storiesoftov.com#FaithAndDoubt #ResurrectionStory #Deconstruction #SpiritualButNotReligious

What if the religious leaders who handed Jesus over to be killed weren't evil villains — they were just people protecting their power? In this Holy Week episode, we walk through John 18–19 and look at what's really happening beneath the surface of Jesus's trial. Because when you slow it down, you start to see a pattern that feels uncomfortably familiar: A religious system that had the answers. A leader who questioned those answers. And people in power who couldn't afford to let him keep talking. Sound familiar? Jesus tells Pilate his kingdom works differently than every empire and every institution that's ever used God's name to hold onto control. And that should make us ask hard questions about the systems we're still inside of today.

In this in studio conversation, I sit down with my friend Colby Stream to talk honestly about crisis, trauma, church community, and what it looks like to lead yourself through chaos without pretending it is fine. We talk about the difference between feeling out of control and actually being out of control, the “locus of control” idea, and why the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35 to 41) still matters for real life suffering.

Chapters, verses, punctuation, paragraph breaks. None of that is in the original manuscripts. That is not a problem. It becomes a problem when we forget it. Because the modern Bible layout quietly trains us to read Scripture like a quote database instead of a living story. In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, I walk through why the Bible was read for over a thousand years without chapters and verses, how those tools got added, and how the “numbered fragment” approach can distort meaning and fuel proof texting. We’ll also look at a real example where formatting decisions can change how people read an entire passage (1 Corinthians 14). Not to start a fight, but to show the bigger point: the way your Bible is arranged shapes the way you think the Bible works.

Many Christians were taught apologetics as defense rather than understanding. This episode explores why that shift happened and how it shaped fragile faith and shallow answers.

The Bible has often been used to control, shame, and silence people. This episode explores how certainty about scripture became a tool of power and how reclaiming humility changes everything.

In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, Joe Oliver sits down with longtime friend and theologian Mario Alejandre for an honest, thoughtful conversation about the state of the church, Christian nationalism, power, faith transitions, and what it means to remain hopeful when so many feel exhausted or disillusioned.

In this episode of Whiskey in the Writings, I walk through a big idea that has been sitting with me for a long time. The Bible did not drop out of the sky into a vacuum. Every stage of its formation and every major shift in Jewish and Christian belief happened in real places, with real people, inside real cultures, languages, conflicts, and power struggles.

Many people reach a point where they can no longer clearly define what they believe. This video explores whether that space is failure or formation and why uncertainty may actually be a faithful place to stand.

Genesis has caused many people to walk away from faith due to science conflicts and literalism. This episode explores how reading Genesis through the wrong lens creates unnecessary tension and how ancient context opens a better path forward.

Many people were taught to read the Bible as an answer book. But what if that was never its purpose. This episode explores a different way of reading scripture that invites wisdom, formation, and trust instead of certainty and control.

What happens when you feel finished with faith but cannot fully let go. This video explores why faith can still matter even after disappointment, doubt, or burnout. It is an honest look at staying open without forcing belief or certainty.

Why do so many churches feel unsafe today? Explore how leadership structures, power, and business models contribute to church hurt, and how healthy faith communities can still be found.

or many of us, reading the Bible came with pressure. Bible in a year plans. Daily quotas. Guilt when we fell behind. Shame when we stopped altogether. Over time, the Bible became less about wisdom and more about obligation. In this episode of Whiskey in the Writings, I want to offer a different starting point. Instead of reading the Bible like a rulebook or an answer key, we explore what it means to read Scripture thematically. Not rushing to finish chapters. Not hunting for verses to solve our problems. But slowing down enough to see the larger story the Bible is telling.

What happens when you create a space for honest questions, deep faith, and thoughtful conversation, and commit to showing up every single week? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, I’m looking back on our first full year together. We talk about why this channel exists, what worked in 2025, what didn’t, and what I learned along the way. From church hurt and doubt to growth, discipline, and community, this has been a year of wrestling with faith in the open. I also share the numbers, the wins, the struggles, and why consistency mattered more than going viral. And most importantly, I walk you through what’s coming in 2026, including in person conversations, interviews, and new ways to engage beyond YouTube. Whiskey and the Writings is a space for the spiritually curious, the skeptic, the seeker, and those who still believe but maybe not like they used to. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in church but still care deeply about faith, this space is for you. If you want to go deeper, check the link at the top of the description to join the Whiskey and the Writings and Stories of TOV community and get weekly reflections delivered to your inbox. Thanks for being here. Truly. Cheers to what’s next.

Every Christmas we sing about baby Jesus in the manger. But have you ever stopped to ask, why did Jesus come at all? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings we slow down, pour a drink, and wrestle with a big question behind the nativity story. Was Jesus’ mission just about your “personal salvation” and getting you to heaven when you die. Or is the Bible actually telling a much bigger story about God healing his world and inviting us to partner with him here and now.

What if the earliest Christians saw power in a completely different way than most churches do today. In this episode of Whiskey in the Writings, we slow down with Philippians 2 and look at one of the oldest Christian poems about Jesus.

What does it really mean to think like the Messiah? And where did Paul believe he would go when he died? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we continue our journey through Philippians and explore how Paul invites his community to adopt the mind of Christ. We look at why he refuses to sweat the small stuff, why he believes his life still has meaningful work to do, and why the way we live in public matters for the kingdom of God.

What does it really mean to be a servant of Jesus. Is it blind obedience or something deeper. In this episode we slow down with the letter to the Philippians and look at how Paul understood servanthood, prayer, wisdom, and love. If you have ever wondered how to follow Jesus without losing yourself, or how to read the Bible in a way that makes sense for a modern thinker, this conversation is for you. Together we explore the opening of Philippians, the meaning behind words like servant and Christ, and how love, knowledge, and wisdom shape the way we see God and each other.

Before you ever read the letter to the Philippians, there is a wild origin story sitting in Acts 16. In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we slow down, pour a glass of Blantons, and look at how a wealthy woman named Lydia, a slave girl, and a Roman jailer all become part of the very first Jesus community in Philippi.We will trace how Paul first arrived in this proud Roman colony, why Lydia is such a significant figure, what is going on with the slave girl and her exploitative masters, and how a late night earthquake turns into a jailer and his whole household trusting Jesus as Lord. Along the way, we will talk about power, empire, spiritual darkness, and why the New Testament spends more time exposing systems that exploit people than it does satisfying our curiosity about the supernatural.This is the first part of a Philippians series where we are not just looking for verses to pull out of context. We are learning how to read this letter as someone else’s mail, written to real people in a real city, and then asking what wisdom it still offers the spiritually curious, the skeptic, and the seeker today. Grab your Bible, your beverage of choice, and let us begin at the riverbank with Lydia before we ever open Philippians itself.

If you have ever opened the Bible and wondered where to start or how to make sense of it, this one is for you. I share a simple way to read the Bible slowly and well, we explore two historic views of God’s judgment (punitive and restorative), and I answer a viewer’s question about who I am and why this channel exists. We look at Mark’s Gospel, context, footnotes, and the kind of reading that leads to understanding rather than quick quotes. This is a space for the spiritually curious and the skeptic, for anyone who still believes but not quite like they used to.

Most people think the Bible teaches a fiery place of eternal torture called “hell.” But what if that image didn’t actually come from Scripture? In this episode, we trace how three ancient words Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna — got blended together through centuries of translation and theology to form the modern idea of hell. We’ll look at what the Hebrew writers actually believed, what Jesus meant by “Gehenna,” and how later translators and theologians like Augustine and Dante changed the story.

Progressive Christianity is growing—and so is the controversy around it. Some say it’s breathing new life into faith by asking hard questions and re-centering Jesus. Others argue it’s diluting Christianity and leaving behind historic truth.In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we’ll explore what’s really behind the debate:Why progressive Christianity is seen as threatening to conservativesThe core issues at stake, from Scripture to social ethicsWhat this means for those still searching for an authentic faithIf you’re skeptical, curious, or just trying to understand the tension, this conversation will help you see why the question matters.

Most of us look for God in the big moments—miracles, worship, answers to prayer. But what if God has been quietly showing up in the ordinary all along? In the laughter of friends, the morning coffee ritual, the walk through falling leaves.In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we talk about what it means to notice God in the everyday moments we often overlook. We’ll look at stories from Scripture where God revealed Himself in simple, unnoticed ways—like Moses tending sheep in the wilderness, or the disciples sharing breakfast with Jesus after His resurrection.This isn’t about adding more religion to your life. It’s about learning to see what’s already holy.

Have you ever sat in silence, wanting to pray but not knowing what to say? You’re not alone. For many of us, prayer can feel awkward, forced, or even pointless when we’re not sure God is listening. But what if prayer was never meant to be perfect words or polished thoughts?In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we talk about what it means to pray when you feel lost for words. We’ll look at how ancient prayers in the Psalms, Jesus’ own words in Matthew 6, and even moments of silence can lead us into deeper connection with God—without performance or pressure.If you’ve ever felt spiritually stuck or distant, this one’s for you.

Why do so many people feel like church isn’t a safe place to bring their struggles, doubts, or pain? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we’ll take an honest look at the ways churches sometimes fail to be spaces of grace and safety. From fear of judgment, to leaders who minimize pain, to a culture that prizes appearance over authenticity—these realities can leave people hiding in silence instead of finding healing in community.But why does this happen? And what was the church meant to be instead? Together, we’ll wrestle with these questions, exploring scripture, culture, and our own experiences. If you’ve ever felt like church wasn’t safe for your story, this conversation is for you.

Apologetics is often seen as the frontline defense of the Christian faith. But what if this practice of proving, debating, and defending is actually doing more harm than good? In this video, we’ll explore why apologetics may be unintentionally damaging Christianity, how it can miss the heart of faith, and what a better way forward could look like. Whether you’re skeptical, spiritually curious, or wrestling with belief, this conversation opens space for a fresh perspective on what it means to follow Jesus today.

Is the Bible inerrant? Christians often debate whether Scripture is without error, but the real question is deeper than that. What do we even mean when we say the Bible is “inerrant” or “inspired”? Does believing in God’s Word mean we have to ignore history, science, or contradictions?In this video, we’ll explore the origins of the idea of biblical inerrancy, how early Christians thought about Scripture, and whether the Bible demands perfection in the way modern people imagine. If you’ve ever wondered how to trust the Bible without checking your brain at the door, this conversation is for you.This channel is for skeptics, seekers, and the spiritually curious who are wrestling with faith and asking big questions. If you’ve been burned by easy answers, you’re in the right place.

This video is different from my usual format. Instead of reviewing or teaching in the same way, I want to pause and process the heartbreaking events unfolding in our country. This is not about politics. It is about Jesus, His kingdom, and what it means to follow Him in the middle of violence, fear, and division. We’ll look at Scriptures that show us how Christians are called to respond—with kindness, patience, gentleness, and courage. Matthew 5 reminds us to let our light shine through good deeds. 1 Peter 3:15 calls us to answer with respect. Philippians 2 urges us to live without grumbling so that we shine as lights in a dark world. Galatians 5 points us back to the fruit of the Spirit. And Jesus Himself calls us to love our enemies in Luke 6. If you’re weary of the outrage, if you’re wondering what it looks like to follow Jesus when tragedy and anger dominate the headlines, this conversation is for you.

When most people think about church, they think about what they can get out of it—good music, inspiring sermons, or a sense of belonging. But what if church was never meant to be centered around you? In this video, we’ll explore what the Bible actually says about the purpose of church and why that’s good news for those who feel disillusioned by it. If you’ve been burned by church or you’re wondering if it even matters anymore, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective.

Why do so many church leaders fail the very people they are supposed to serve? From scandals to burnout, from power struggles to broken trust, the crisis in church leadership has left countless people questioning their faith and walking away from the church altogether. In this video, we’ll look honestly at what’s going wrong with church leaders today, why so much brokenness comes from those in power, and what the Bible actually says about leadership.If you’ve been hurt, disillusioned, or just left wondering whether you can trust pastors anymore, this conversation is for you.

A lot of us have wrestled with the question: Do I really need to go to church to follow Jesus? In this video, I dive into what the Bible actually says about church, community, and what it means to live out faith today. We’ll look at the word ekklesia in the New Testament, explore how the earliest Christians practiced their faith, and ask whether modern church culture really lines up with Jesus’ vision. If you’ve been hurt by church or are skeptical of organized religion, you’re not alone—and this conversation might give you a fresh perspective.

You’ve probably asked it before: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life?In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we go back to the very beginning—Genesis 1 and 2—to explore what the Bible really says about human vocation. Spoiler: it’s not just about getting into heaven. It’s about building something beautiful here and now.We’ll uncover how your purpose is deeply connected to bringing order out of chaos—just like God does—and how Jesus shows us what that looks like in real life. This isn’t about religion. It’s about rediscovering your role in a story that’s still unfolding.

What if your identity didn’t begin with your failures — but with something sacred?In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we explore what it really means to be made in the image of God. From the ancient Hebrew words tselem and demut in Genesis 1, to how Jesus restores what was broken, this video unpacks the biblical story of human dignity, divine purpose, and the true path to healing.Whether you’re spiritually curious, skeptical of church, or just wondering if there’s more to you than what you were told — this is for you.

Why do pain and suffering exist if God is good? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, Joe Oliver explores a deeper perspective on the problem of evil. Drawing from the prophet Habakkuk, Romans 8, and real-world examples of natural and human-caused suffering, Joe wrestles honestly with one of the biggest questions of faith. What if God’s answer to suffering… is you? Discover how the biblical story points to partnership, not passivity, and why hope still remains. Perfect for skeptics, seekers, and the spiritually curious.

Why does the Bible end the way it does—and what does it actually mean for us today? In Part 3 of this Bible overview series, we explore the final act of the story: the arrival of Jesus, the rise of a new kind of humanity, and a vision of heaven that’s not about escaping earth—but restoring it. If you’ve ever felt lost reading the Bible or unsure how it all fits together, this video is for you. We’ll break down: • Why the Gospels tell more than just the crucifixion story • How Jesus perfectly reflects the image we were always meant to bear • What the early church reveals about human flourishing • And why the Bible ends with heaven coming here, not us going there Whether you’re a seeker, a skeptic, or someone who’s walked away from traditional religion—this is a fresh, honest look at what the Bible has really been trying to say all along.

Ever opened your Bible to the middle and wondered, “What is going on here?” You’re not alone. From strange laws to violent stories, the middle section of Scripture can feel like a theological minefield — even contradictory to the message of Jesus. In this episode, we explore Act Two of the Bible’s larger narrative: the Law, the Rule, and the Loss. Why did Israel want a king like everyone else? What do we do with stories that seem to depict God endorsing violence or injustice? And how does any of this relate to your own story? Whether you’re skeptical, spiritually curious, or returning to Scripture after walking away, this video offers a framework to help you make sense of the Bible’s most misunderstood chapters — and discover the thread of hope that runs right through them.

Most people read the Bible like it’s a rulebook—or they avoid it altogether because it just doesn’t make sense. But what if you’ve been missing the bigger story? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we take a 30,000-foot view of the entire Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—and break it down into a simple three-act structure: The Setup, The Conflict, and The Resolution. This is the framework I wish someone had given me when I first started reading the Bible.

Was the gospel just a ticket to heaven—or something far more powerful? In this third installment of our What Is the Gospel? series on Whiskey and the Writings, we take a deep dive into what the earliest Christians—those who actually wrote the New Testament—believed the gospel was. Spoiler: it’s not a sales pitch for the afterlife. Joe Oliver (M.A. in Biblical Theology, 24 years in ministry) explores how the gospel meant the enthronement of Jesus as King, the fulfillment of long-awaited promises, and an invitation into a new kind of life—right now. We walk through ancient context, early Christian sermons in Acts, and one of the earliest gospel summaries in 1 Corinthians 15. If you’ve ever questioned what the gospel really is—or if the message you grew up hearing still holds up—this episode is for you.

In Part 2 of our Gospel series, we dig into how Jesus understood himself—not just as a teacher or miracle worker, but as the Anointed One—the Messiah promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. This episode traces the idea of gospel or good news through Isaiah 61 and into the words and actions of Jesus in Luke 4, revealing a much bigger story than just “where you go when you die.” We explore: • What the word Messiah (Mashiach) actually means • Why Jesus reading Isaiah 61 in the synagogue was a mic-drop moment • How “Christ” isn’t Jesus’s last name—but a bold, world-altering title • Why the gospel is more about what Jesus does now than just our afterlife • How the Spirit empowers us to carry on the Messiah’s mission

You’ve heard the word Gospel—but what did it actually mean to Jesus? To the early Christians? And why was it considered such a radical (even dangerous) message in the first century? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we begin a multi-part deep dive into the meaning and origin of the word gospel (Greek: euangelion), how it was used in the Roman Empire, and why the New Testament writers hijacked it to describe the message of Jesus. Spoiler: it was more than just personal salvation—it was a bold political and theological claim.

Many of us were told to never question the Bible—that doubt meant disobedience. But is that what the Bible actually teaches? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we explore how curiosity, wrestling, and even doubt are built into the biblical story. From Job to the Psalms to Jesus himself, questioning isn’t just allowed—it’s invited. If you’re spiritually curious, skeptical, or simply unsure what to do with your questions, you’re not alone.

What makes Christianity worth taking seriously today? In this episode, we explore how the radical ethics of Jesus — like loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you — sparked a movement that reshaped the world. From early Christians rescuing abandoned infants to Basil of Caesarea inventing public healthcare, this isn’t the Christianity you may have grown up hearing about.If you’ve ever asked, “Does following Jesus really make a difference?” — this is for you. We’ll examine Jesus’ teachings in Luke 6 and how they transformed human rights, public compassion, and even our hospital system today. This isn’t about defending religion. It’s about rediscovering a way of life that, when taken seriously, changes everything.

How can the same Bible show a God who commands violence and a Savior who teaches love? If you’ve ever struggled with the God of the Old Testament—his anger, the wars, the commands to destroy—you’re not alone. In this video, we take an honest look at the tension between the justice of Yahweh and the compassion of Jesus. Are they really the same God? What do we do with the disturbing parts of Scripture? This episode is for the skeptic, the spiritually curious, and the believer who’s not afraid to ask tough questions.

Have you ever felt like you don’t fit the traditional church mold? You’re not alone—and you may actually be closer to Jesus than you realize. In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, Joe Oliver explores the story of Matthew the tax collector, a social outcast personally invited by Jesus to follow Him. Together, we’ll uncover how Jesus consistently pursued skeptics, outsiders, and the spiritually curious—and why feeling disconnected from religious institutions doesn’t mean you’re disconnected from God.

What if Genesis 1 was never meant to explain science? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, Joe Oliver invites the spiritually curious, skeptics, and those rethinking their faith to explore a different side of the creation story—one that focuses on meaning and purpose rather than scientific explanation. Instead of forcing modern questions onto an ancient text, we’ll dive into what Genesis 1 actually offers: a vision of God’s good creation, the home He made for humanity, and the deep purpose He intended for us. Drawing from scholars like John Walton, N.T. Wright, and Tim Mackey, Joe explores how understanding Genesis as a functional creation narrative—not a material one—can reshape your view of the Bible, God, and your place in the world.